Fuel control valve



g- 1946- G. M. HOLLEY, JR

FUEL CONTROL VALVE Filed Jan. 1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gearyeMfi alley Cf]:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1946.

G. M. HOLLEY, JR

FUEL CONTROL VALVE Filed Jan. 1, 1945 flear yeMfilleyJlt 3% v INVENTOR ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 1, 1945 INVENTOR.

ATTQPNE) 1946- G. M. HOLLEY, JR 2,405,888

FUEL CONTROL VALVE Filed Jan. 1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FUEL lNJECT/ON ump 6801 Mfi olle ykin IN VENTOR.

3, 1946. a. M. HOLLEY, JR 2,405,888

FUEL CONTROL VALVE Filed Jan. 1, 1945 S Sh e tS-Sheet 5 as 01 8 14195228 Jr.

ATTORNEY 50L Elva/D Patented Aug. 13,1946 9 FUEL CONTROL VALVE George M. Holley, Jr., Grosse Pointe, Mich., as signor to George M. Holley and Earl Holley Application January 1, 1945, Serial No. 570,942

11 Claims. (Cl. 6041) The object of this invention is to automatically govern the speed of a prime mover and to vary the governed speed manually. Another object is to improve the control of the flow of liquid fuel to an engine. Another object is to improve the flow of liquid fuel to a burner in the combustion chamber of an external combustion engine of the gas-turbine type.

Figure 1 shows the elements of the preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 shows the application of the elements shown in Figure 1 to a gas turbine power plant adapted for use in aircraft.

Figure 3 shows diagrammatically the essential elements of my invention in its simplest form.

Figure 4 shows an alternative construction to that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows an alternative construction to that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows an alternative construction to that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 shows an alternative construction to that shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2, fuel enters at I0 through an engine-driven fuel pump I I of the positive displacement type to a venturi I2, past a balanced valve I3 (closed by a compresison spring 99) to the pipe 52, burners I53 and to the turbine 40. The gears 3| drive the pump II and are driven by the turbine 46, which drives the compressor Br supercharger 39 through a shaft 51.

In Figure 2, air enters at 42, flows through the supercharger 39, past the burners I53, heat responsive element 34, through the gas turbine 40 to the outlet 43. The drive shaft 51 is driven by the turbine 46 and drives the supercharger 39 and pump gears 3I. Power is taken off shaft 59 from shaft 51 through gears 60 located between shafts 51 and 59. Shaft 59 usually drives a propeller.

In Figure 1, a diaphragm I4 is responsive to the pressure drop in the venturi I2, to the throat of which, chamber I06 is connected by pipe I26. The quantity of fuel flowing past the springloaded, balanced valve I 3 is reduced by the quantity which returns through a bypass 96I 5. The flow through this bypass 96I5 is determined by the valve I9. This valve I9 is supported by a compression spring 63 and by the fuel pressure admitted through the passage 23 connected to passage 56, restriction 55, as modified by a pilot valve 20, which is controlled by the diaphragm I4 and also by another diaphragm I6 connected to the diaphragm I4. The movement of the diaphragms I4 and I6 is determined by the movement of a. needle I'I,,which is controlled by a manually-adjusted cam 30. The flow by the needle valve I1 is controlled by a valve I8 opened by a compression spring 98 and carried by a diaphragm 54, the upper face of which is subjected to the pressure on the right-hand side of g the diaphragm I4, which communicates with the pressure at the entrance to the venturi I2 through a passage 58. The valve I8 maintain a constant pressure drop past the needle valve I! so that fluctuation in pressure will not vary the flow.

The left-hand side of the diaphragm I6 is also subjected to the same pressure. A restriction 2| admits a certain quantity of the fuel under pressure to the chamber on the right-hand side of the diaphragm I6, and this quantity fiows past the needle II, valve I8, outlet 24 to bypass I5. Hence, the more the valve I1 is open, the greater the pressure drop at restriction 2| and the lower the pressure on the right-hand side of the diaphragm I6.

The valve 20, which is a pilot valve (for the valve I9), is connected to both diaphragms I4 and I6 and is therefore controlled by the-joint action of these two diaphragms and thus regulates the hydraulic pressure acting below the valve I9 assisting the compression spring 63. .The valve I9 controls the fiow back from the passage 96 through the bypass I5 to the fuel entrance from the venturi I2 through a restriction 55.

In Figures 1 and 2, a manually-operated lever I34 controls the lever 29, which controls the cam 30, which controls the needle II. The position of the lever 34 and the valve II controlled thereby thus determines the governed speed, at which speed the valves 26 and I9 are in equilibrium.

A solenoid 50 controls the valve 53, which establishes, when open, the connection from the cylinder 6| below the valve I9 and the fuel entrance Il] through the passages 65, 24 and I5. The valve .53 is closed by a compression spring 62. When the valve 53 is opened by electricity flowing through the electric magnet 56, pressure in the cylinder 6| is lowered, which therefore causes the valve I9 to descend and thus causes the flow throughthe bypass I5 to increase. Hence, when the temperature responsive element 34 establishes the contact 35 due to high temperature, electricity flows through the conductors 36 to the solenoid 50. This solenoid 50, when energized, attracts the needle valve 53, which is normally seated by a spring 62. An engine-driven Description of Figure 3 In Figure 3, is the fluid entrance, 1| is the engine-driven pump, 13 is the venturi, 14 is the chamber connected to the throat of the venturi I3, is a diaphragm forming one wall of the chamber 14, 15 is a chamber on the other side 01 the diaphragm 15 and is connected through a passage 11 to the entrance to the venturi 13. Passage 11 also communicates with the chamber 18 located to the right of a second diaphragm 19. To the left of the diaphragm 18 is located the chamber 80, which is connected to the passage I1 through restriction 8|. 82 is an ad'- justable needle controlling the flow from the chamber- 80 through a passage 83 back to the reservoir 84, from which the pump 1| obtains its supply of control fluid. The discharge from the venturi 13 is shown flowing back through a pipe 85 and discharging past a spring-loaded valve 86 to the reservoir 84.

A rod 81 connects the two dlaphragms 15 and I9 together. A lever 88 is moved by the rod 81; a link 89 is shown connected to a lever 90, which controls a throttle 9|, which throttle controls the flow through a venturi 92, into which venturi.

there discharges a fuel nozzle 93. Lever 91 controls the movement of the needle 82. When the needle 82 is closed and the engine running at its minimum speed, the lever 88 is pressed against the stop 94. Stop 95 limits the movement of the throttle towards the wide-open position.

Description of Figure 4 In Figure 4, the valve 82 has been located where the restriction 8| is located in .Figure 3, and the restriction 8| is located where thevalve 82 is located in Figure 3. A restriction I03 replaces the venturi 13; otherwise, the construction is the same as Figure 3, except that a thermostat III operates a valve "2 to close the flow through an orifice 3 when the temperature of the thermostat III exceeds a predetermined value. A restriction II4, between the chamber 14 and a point downstream of restriction I03, is required to make the thermostat III effective. A hot spot H5 is controlled by valve I I1. This valve drives the exhaust gases over the hot spot and through the outlet H6 when it is closed; when it is open, it shuts the exhaust ofi away from the hot spot.

Description of Figure 5 In Figure 5, the valve 82 is located at the bottom of chamber 18, and the restriction 8| is located at the top of chamber 18. Through 8|, the high pressure fluid is admitted through the passage 11. The pipe 0 connects the chamber 80 to the low pressure return pipe 83. In Figure 5, as in Figure 4, a restriction I03 in the main out let from the pump 1| replaces the venturi 13 shown in Figure 3.

Description of Figure 6 In Figure 6, the valve 82 is located in the upper part of chamber 18, into which the fluid under pressure is admitted from passage I1. Pipe 0 connects the chamber 80 to the low pressure return pipe 83. The restriction 8| is located at the bottom of chamber 18. A servomotor valve I35 controls the movement of a servomotor piston I36, which engages with a rack I31, which is held in engagement by spring I38. A Diesel-engine However, a, storage battery can be subtype fuel injection pump is shown at I39 driven by a shaft I40, which is driven by the engine. Oil under pressure to operate the servomotor is admitted through passage MI and escapes through passage I42.

Description of Figure 7 In Figure I, the valve I04, controlling a restriction I28, replaces the valve 53, and the pipe I05 replaces the pipe 55 and is connected to the chamber I06 to the left of diaphragm I4. Pipe I01 replaces pipe 54 and is connected to the chamber I08 to the right of diaphragm I4.

A by-pass I20-I29 is located downstream of valve I3 in the pipe 52. This bypass is interrupted by a valve I2I carried by a piston I22 in a cylinder I23. A spring I24 pushes the piston I22 and the valve l2| to the left, in which position the bypass |20|29 will communicate with the low pressure return passage IS. A passage I21 connects the left-hand end of the cylinder I23 and the downstream end of venturi I2. Bypass I20 communicates through a passage I54 with the cylinder I23 to the right of the piston I22, so that piston I22 is subjected to the pressure drop at the valve I3.

Operation In Figures 1 and 2, the pump II is driven by the gas turbine 40, operated by the fuel passing the valve I3. Hence, if the turbine rotates at an excessively high speed, the pump II will deliver an excessive quantity of liquid through the venturi I2, which will cause a low pressure in chamber I06 to the left of the diaphragm I4, which will move the servomotor valve 20 to the left. A low pressure in passage 23 results because the passage 23 will then be connected to the passage 24 through the valve 28 and the passage 56 is connected to the venturi I2 through restriction 55. The passage 24 communicates with the bypass I5, and hence with the relatively low pressure existing in the fuel entrance I0.

Hence, the valve I1 provides a manual control for the speed, except at high operating temperatures. At high temperatures, the contacts 35 are closed and solenoid 50 becomes operative, so that the valve 53 is moved to the right and some of the fuel under pressure in cylinder 6| below the valve I9 escapes through the pipes 64-65. The valve I 9 then tends to fall, as the spring 63 is not stifi enough to hold the valve up against the pressure in the outlet 98 leading from the venturi I2.

Operation of Figure 3 Assuming that the needle 82 is closed and the engine is idling, then the flow through the venturi 13 causes a drop of pressure in the chamber 14.

Pressure in the chamber 18 equals the pressure in the chamber 80. Hence, the rod 81 is pushed over to the right against the stop 94, which determines the minimum opening of the throttle 9| of the carburetor 92-93, and thus the minimum operating speed of the engine. When the needle 82 is opened, a flow occurs from the downstream side of the pump 1| through the passage 11, through the restriction 8|, into the chamber 80, past the needle 82, along the passage 83 and back to the reservoir 84. Pressure in the chamber is reduced due to the pressure drop at restriction 8|. The rod 81 thereupon moves to the left. The lever 88 moves away from the stop 94, the throttle 9| opens, the speed of the engine increases, the speed of the pump 1| increases the flow through the venturi 13, and increases the depression in the chamber 14 until it is equal to the depression in the chamber 80. When the system is in equilibrium, the throttle 9| no longer opens. This system therefore consists of an engine-driven pump, which produces a flow of governing fluid proportional to the speed of the engine. A venturi in the path of this flow creates a pressure difference, which acts on a diaphragm I5, which moves in opposition to the diaphragm "IS, the pressure difference acting upon which is controlled by the valve 82 and represents the simplest form of my invention. Assuming that the throttle 9I is free from friction, a constant speed will be maintained at each position of the valve 82, regardless of the load on the engine until such time as the throttle 9| is Wide open.

Operation of Figure 4 When the speed control valve 82 is opened, the pressure in chamber 80 increases. An increase in pressure in chamber 80 tends to close the throttle 9I just as in Figure 3, the closing of valve 82 tends to open the throttle 9|. In Figure 4, when the valve 82 is closed, then the pressur in chamber 80 falls to the minimum value established by the return pipe 83, and the pressure in the chamber I8 then opens the throttle 9| wide, and the drop across the obstruction I03 would never be great enough to close the throttle, For this reason, the valve 82 is not permitted to close completely. The thermostat I'II automatically reduces the governed speed. When III expands, valve H2 moves to the left, restricting opening H3. Restricting H3 lowers the pressure in chamber I4 because of the restriction H4. The resulting movement of the diaphragm 15 to the right closes the throttle.

Operation of Figure 5 When the valve 82 closes, the pressure in chamber I8 increases and the lever 88 moves to the left and thus the throttle 9| opens. When the valve 82 opens, the pressure in chamber I8 falls to the low pressure in the return pipe 83, and the throttle SI closes under the influence of the pressure drop across the restriction I03.

Operation of Figure 6 When the valve 82 opens, the pressure in chamber I8 increases and the valve I35 moves to the left to increase the governed speed. When the valve 82 closes, the pressure in chamber I8 falls to the pressure in the return pipe 83, and the valve I35 moves to the right under the influence of the pressure drop across the restriction I03.

The servomotor valve I35 is moved by the connection 89 and causes the piston I36 to move and thus move the rack I31, which controls the discharge from the pump I39, which is driven at either engine speed or one-half engine speed. By controlling the amount of fuel by the rack I3'I, the speed of the engine is also controlled.

In Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the travel of the valve 82 is limited so that at the critical speed, when there is danger from excessive speed, then the drop in the venturi 13 (Figure 3) or the drop across the restriction I03 (Figures 4, 5 and 6) prevents excessive speeds occurring.

Operation of Figure 7 In Figure 7, when the solenoid 50 causes the valve I04 to move to the right, the flow from the passage 58 through the orifice I28 by way of pipes I05 and I 01 ceases. Hence, the Venturi drop, which has been partially dissipated by this flow through the restriction I28, is restored to its full value. Hence, the venturi drop becomes more effective and the valve 20 responds to a lower revolution per minute of the displacement pump I I. Hence, the governor continues to govem, but governs at a lower speed,

When the cam 30 is moved so that valve I1 is opened suddenly, an increased flow is established through the restriction 2|, the servomotor valve 20 suddenly moves over to the right. The fuel will no longer flow down passage 56. Hence, the full pressure of the fuel pump II is transmitted through the passage 23 to the underside of the valve I9, which suddenly closes, causing a sudden increase in flow in the pipe 52 past the valve I3. The inertia effect of the sudden increase in flow down the pipe 52 causes a decrease in the pressure drop past the valve I3, which gives an increase in the pressure transmitted through pipe I20 to the right of the piston I22. This increase, assisted by the compression spring I24, moves the valve I2I to the left, which permits some of the fuel flowing in the pipe 52 to escape through the passage I20 past the valve I2I through the passage I29 to the return passage I5.

What I claim is:

1. In a fluid-operated governor for a variable speed engine having a power control means comprising a source of operating fluid for said governor, a positive displacement pump connected thereto having a main outlet passage, means for driving said pump at a speed proportional to the speed of said engine, a leakage bypass leading from the downstream side of said pump to the source of operating fluid, a manually variable leakage orifice and a fixed orifice located in series in said bypass, a firstchamber communicating with the bypass between said orifices, a movable wall in said chamber responsive to the variable pressure botween the fixed orifice and the variable orifice, an obstruction in said main passage adapted to create a pressure drop proportional to the square of the speed of the engine, a second and third chamber connected to said main outlet passage, one chamber connected upstream from said obstruction, the other chamber connected downstream from said obstruction, a second movable wall common to said second and third chambers so as to be responsive to pressure drop at said obstruction, means connecting both moving walls to said power control means whereby the power is controlled manually by the manually variable leakage ori fice and the maximum speed is limited automatically.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a fourth chamber connected with the downstream side of said pump and located on the side of the first diaphragm opposite to said first chamber.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a fourth chamber connected with the outlet from the two orifices in series and located on the side of the first diaphragm opposite to said first chamber.

4. In a fluid-operated governor for variable speed engines having a power control means comprising a source of operating fluid, a displacement pump connected thereto, means for driving said pump at a, speed proportional to the speed of said engine, a venturi in the outlet from said pump, means responsive to the drop in pressure in said venturi to move said power control means to limit the speed of said engine, a fixed orifice, a passage connecting said orifice with the pressure side of said pump, a second passage connect- 1 8 said orifice with a manually variable leakage orifice in series with said first orifice and located in the said outlet, means responsive to the variable drop across-said fixed orifice to oppose the means responsive to drop in pressure in said venturi so as to vary the speed of said engine.

5. A combined manual and automatic control means for the burner of a gas turbine having a combustion chamber and a source of fuel, a turbine-driven fuel pump of the positive displacement type, a fuel discharge passage, a fuel venturi therein located downstream from said pump, a first chamber having a first moving wall responsive to the pressure drop in said venturi, a leakage bypass in said fuel passage leading from the relatively'unrestricted portion of said fuel discharge passage downstream from said fuel pump to the entrance to said pump, a second chamber having a second moving wall connected to said bypass, a manually controlled valve in said leakage bypass adapted to cause a variable pressure drop on one side of said second moving wall, a servomotor valve operatively connected to both of said moving walls, a fuel relief outlet, a relief valve therein adapted to open whenever said servomotor valve is moved from its neutral position so as to permit the escape of a considerable portion of the fuel to the source of fuel entering the pump when the drop in pressure through said venturi is sufilcient to open said servomotor valve, the determination of the specific drop being determined by the manually-controlled valve.

6. A device as set forth inclaim 5 in which there is a passage around said servomotor valve,

a valve in said passage adapted to open in re-,

sponse to a rise in temperature of the combustion chamber of said gas turbine so as to open said relief valve independently of the opening of said servomotor valve in response to said manual and automatic control means.

7. A hydraulic governor for a prime mover comprising a liquid pump of the positive displacement type driven by the prime mover, an outlet from the pump, a venturi in the outlet, a first chamber, a moving wall dividing said first chamber into two, a passage connecting the chamber on one side of said diaphragm to the throat of said venturi, a passage connecting the chamber on the other side of said moving wall with the pressure side of said liquid pump, a second chamber, a second moving wall therein, the chamber to one side of said second moving wall being in free communication with the pressure side of said liquid pump, a restricted passage connecting the chamber on the other side of said second moving wall with the pressure side of said liquid pump, a second passage connecting said chamber with the entrance to said liquid pump, a manually-controlled regulating valve in said passage adapted to control the flow through said restricted passage, a control means for said prime mover, a connection from said control means to both of said moving walls, said moving walls be- .ing adapted to move in opposition to each other,

venturi thereby decreasing the tendency of said prime mover to move so as to limit the'speed of said prime mover to the speed at which the depression in the venturi balances the drop in pressure in said restricted passage.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a temperature responsive means associated with said prime mover, a valve movable thereby, a passage connecting the chamber on one side of said first diaphragm with the chamber on the other side, a restriction in said passage, said valve being adapted to close when the temperature of the prime mover exceeds a predetermined maximum temperature whereby the drop in pressure due to the flow through said venturi becomes more effective and the prime mover is governed at a lower speed.

9. A speed governor for a prime mover comprising a source of liquid, a pump of the positive displacement type and driven by said prime mover so as to create a flow of said'liquid proportional to speed of said prime mover, a restriction in said flow, speed decreasing means for said prime mover responsive to the pressure drop at said restriction, balancing means adapted to oppose said speed decreasing means comprising a leakage passage leading from the pressure side of said pump back to said source, a variable restriction in said leakage passage means responsive to the drop in pressure at said variable restriction due to the flow through said leakage passage to oppose and balance the said first pressure drop, manual means to vary said leakage flow to control the said second drop in pressure as to control the governed speed of said prime mover.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which there is a bypass adapted to reduce the effectiveness of said pressure drop in said restriction and valve means responsive to the temperature of said prime mover located in said bypass and adapted to close said bypass when the said temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

11. A speed governor for a prime mover comprising a pump of the positive displacement type, a main passage connected to said pump, means for driving said pump so as to produce a flow of fluid under pressure in said main passage proportional ta the speed of said prime mover, a chamber, a moving wall dividing'said chamber into two parts, a connection from one part of said chamber to a point in said passage, a connection from the other part of said chamber to a point in said passage where the pressure is influenced by the velocity of flow, a, second chamber, a second moving wall dividing said second chamber into two parts, two connections, one from each part of said second chamber to said main passage, a leakage passage from one part of said second chamber leading to a low pressure outlet, manually controlled means for regulating said leakage flow so as to lower the pressure in one part of said second'chamber, means for controlling the speed c-f said prime mover connected to both of said moving walls, the low pressure responsive to said leakage flow being'adapted to oppose the difference of pressure due to the flow through said main passage.

GEORGE M. HOLLEY, JR. 

